According
to Marine Adamyan 450 painters participated in informational training on AIDS
issues as part of the project in several regions of Armenia.

The threat posed by the AIDS virus was highlighted in bright colors
at the Yerevan Hay-Art cultural center on September 18.

With posters bearing
slogans such as "Let's wipe out AIDS together", "You are not alone",
and "Don't harm your health for pleasure", young and professional painters
sought to bring awareness of the problem while offering support to sufferers who
feel isolated from society.

Fourteen organizations based in Armenia joined
together to promote a national poster contest on an anti-discrimination theme.
Their goal was use art to draw attention to AIDS, a problem still considered irrelevant
by many people in Armenia.

"It seems that this problem is not an urgent
one for our country, however it is a mistake to think that way," said Karen
Nazaryan representative of the World Council of Churches in Echmiadzin at the
opening ceremony. "Statistics in recent years show that the outbreak of HIV/AIDS
has reached enormous levels in CIS countries."

The
goal of the contest was to draw attention to AIDS through art.

Marine Adamyan, manager of the Health Project of World Vision Armenia International,
says that 450 painters participated in informational training organized as part
of the project in Yerevan and the Shirak, Taush, and Armavir regions. They heard
lectures on AIDS and problems facing those carrying the virus.

As a result
of those lectures, painters reflected their thoughts and feelings on AIDS with
the help of paints, pencils, glass and collages. The creators of the best posters
were chosen from four age groups and presented with certificates of thanks and
money prizes.

"We are going to make calendars from all these posters,"
says Adamyan. "They will be published on December 1, World AIDS Day, and
made available to the public."

The prize-winning posters will be first
sent to Geneva where the best works will be selected and sent to New York, where
on December 1 they will be demonstrated at the upcoming international poster contest
dedicated to the World AIDS Day.

September 15, Progressive Youth Union of Armenia demonstrated
its attitude towards ArmenTel by protesting in front of the buiding of the telecommunication
company with posters saying, "We demand quality communication". People
passing by joined the protesters trampling down telephones. No connection, no
need in phones.